text:
Closing credits: CT sours on movie incentives
He'll be the first to admit that he's no economist. But he does have a gold statuette at home named Oscar.
So when his home state of Connecticut decided to follow a national trend and suspend tax credits for the motion picture industry for the next two years, former child star-turned-director Ron Howard was not whistling the theme from "The Andy Griffith Show."
"Obviously, I think that's a horrible mistake," Howard told Hearst Connecticut Newspapers. "It's a deciding factor in just about every conversation you have with major studios or independent film production entities when discussing where and how you're going to make a movie. When tax credits come and go, these financiers that do rely on them as sort of the tie-breaker lose trust and faith in an area."
A state that just a few years ago relished the opportunity to be associated with Robert De Niro, Jennifer Aniston and Leonardo DiCaprio is now leaving the theater before the final credits, however.
Architects of the state's two-year $44 billion budget have seen enough to conclude that Connecticut taxpayers should not be subsidizing big-budget movie productions whose economic benefits are difficult at best to quantify, or independent film projects for the matter. The moratorium is expected to save $6 million.
The big screen's loss is the little screen's gain.
The state is preserving tax credits for television and digital animation companies, such as ESPN, WWE and Blue Sky Studios that are based in Connecticut. Recipients of the credits can recoup 30 percent of their in-state production costs.
Politicians on both sides of the aisle support the shift, saying that the economic benefits of the TV and digital-first strategy are much more easily demonstrated. All one has to do is look at the hundreds of jobs created here and the infrastructure investments by media conglomerates, they say.
"I think there's long been a suspicion that a lot of the location shooting of motion pictures probably had less downstream economic impacts because of the large number of out-of-state firms involved in film production," said Ben Barnes, budget chief for Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
Republican Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, a native of Fairfield, where Michael Douglas is now filming the Rob Reiner comedy "And So It Goes," is similarly skeptical.
"I would argue that in the best-case scenario, that making the local businesses whole, using local caterers, I don't think that's a net positive," said McKinney, who is considering a run for governor.
Others warned that the state's decision could backfire because the digital, TV and movie talent pools are intertwined. That could stop the momentum of recent media progress in Connecticut, they say, and scare away entertainment investors to other states.
"It will be an ongoing saga, and I'm not sure where it will finally end," said Professor Sam Craig, who directs the entertainment, media and technology program at New York University's Stern School of Business.
"How important is a robust film industry to support TV, because they're not necessarily independent."
Goodbye Hollywood
Across America, the Connecticut debate is being mirrored as other cash-strapped states rethink how effective film and TV incentives can be in stimulating growth. Taken together, it amounts to something of a backlash against last decade's eager courting of Hollywood.
"Every independent analysis of film tax credits has found that they're not a good economic deal," said Joseph Henchman, a lawyer and policy analyst with the Washington, D.C., based Tax Foundation.
The bonanza kicked into gear in 2001, when four states offered such tax credits for a total of $1 million. By 2010, the number of states had swelled to 40 and the tax credits up for grabs had ballooned to $1.4 billion, according to the Tax Foundation.
In this latest chapter, though, several states -- one of the most recent is Michigan -- have eliminated the incentives. Others are putting tighter limits on how much money is available.
Yet at the same time, states like New Mexico have sweetened the incentive for specific sectors like TV. There, the so-called "Breaking Bad" bill, named after the smash-hit AMC show filmed in Albuquerque -- upped TV tax credits from 25 percent of in-state production costs to 30 percent, the same as Connecticut.
Connecticut, for its part, has swiftly retreated from the big screen.
Between 2008 and 2012, the state reduced tax credits given to motion pictures from $79 million to $19 million. Meanwhile, it increased tax credits to TV and digital media from a combined $1 million in 2008 to $39 million for TV and $18 million for digital media in 2012. By last December, the state had handed out a total of $297 million in such tax credits since 2006.
"We've sort of found that our bread and butter has been TV," said George Norfleet, director of the state's Office of Film, Television & Digital Media. "We want them all, including film, but when resources are limited, we have to make sure we put them behind the longterm benefit."
Kevin Segalla embodies the transition. In 2006, when he opened the Connecticut Film Center in Stamford, he quickly landed big-name actors like Uma Thurman and Robin Williams to his studios for films. More recently, his biggest grabs have been luring TV entities such as NBC Sports and the YES networks, along with programs like "The Jerry Springer Show," "People's Court," Showtime's "The Big C" and online soap operas "All My Children" and "One Life to Live."
"It's beyond anything we could have imagined," Segalla said. "We want to see digital media, video games, web creators based in Connecticut. We'd like to ratchet it up and it's starting to happen."
Among state officials, there is some disagreement about whether the transition is smart.
"My gut tells me (the film tax credit) was break-even at best," said State Sen. L. Scott Frantz, R-Greenwich. "The reason for (my hunch) is these film crews come and go. Do they use local catering companies and service support companies? Yes, they do. But they leave as quickly as they come."
Former House Speaker James Amann, the godfather of the tax incentive program, bemoaned the shift. Citing figures from the state Department of Economic and Community Development, he said the Connecticut media hub is a $1 billion industry that has created 15,500 jobs since 2006. He warned that movie production companies will bypass Connecticut.
"Once you take the carrot away, they're going to start using the studios in other areas such as New York, Massachusetts, Vancouver and New Mexico," he said. "I think it's a mistake not bringing the high-profile movies here."
But Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch sees it differently. In recent years, his city has hosted the likes of De Niro and Sean Penn.
"While we are always happy to showcase our city, we have not yet seen a measurable impact on our local economy," he said.
Indie crisis
The moratorium is certain to make life harder for the state's independent film makers.
Because their movies so rarely turn a profit, these filmmakers have trouble enough cobbling together financing for projects. The tax credits were a godsend of sorts. They provided investors with the security that they would at least get something close to 30 percent of their money back.
That alone helped develop the cottage business to the point where several two- to three-month projects employing a few dozen people could operate simultaneously across Connecticut, said Alex Calvo, 45, who has produced four such features in the last few years. He was in the process of trying to green-light two more -- but now he's got his work cut out for him.
"I finally started to climb that ladder and have access to people I hadn't had access to, but this has really thrown a monkey wrench in it," he said.
Last year, Calvo's friend Greg Friedle directed "The Word," a 90-minute, $350,000 thriller that premieres this weekend at the Manhattan Film Festival.
The movie is about a single dad who suspects his son has been kidnapped and murdered by a Satanic cult. It was written by a Fairfield native and features an actor from Weston. It was filmed primarily in Bridgeport. But Friedle can't imagine making another such film soon.
"This is my home state. It's where I want to film," he said. "But without the film tax credits, there's no way I'm going to do an indie film here."
Blurring landscapes
Notable among those predicting Connecticut to fall out of favor with filmmakers is Howard, whose own post-production facility in his hometown of Greenwich has received tax credits.
"It's not a lot of money, but it's meaningful," he said.
Howard, who won an Academy Award for "A Beautiful Mind," said there is a lot of crossover in entertainment industry.
"The line between theatrical and digital is blurring," he said. "I think it's short-sighted to take that kind of position."
The pressures of churning out films on time and on budget, he said, sometimes make it difficult for producers to rely solely on Connecticut vendors and contractors when filming here.
"No one wants catering from New York, but they need the catering to be there on time, for example," he said.
Connecticut's proximity to New York and Boston is a major selling point, but not the only one in this era of competition among states, said Howard, who is now giving a different kind of direction.
"Connecticut has a unique advantage, an opportunity to build a lasting industry out of it," Howard said.
firstname.lastname@example.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy


text:
The NY Times has an editorial on abuse in religious groups.
the truth is, there are not two kinds of religions — the enlightened and the medieval. Every religion has evildoers stalking its corridors. They just survive, and thrive, with different strategies.
Take Zen Buddhism, the paragon of open, nonhierarchical spirituality. Anyone may practice Zen meditation; you do not have to convert, be baptized or renounce your old religion. Yet leaders of major Zen centers in Los Angeles and New York have recently been accused, on strong evidence, of exploiting followers for sex. This weekend, Zen teachers ordained by Joshu Sasaki, the semiretired abbot of the Rinzai-ji Zen Center in Los Angeles, are holding a retreat to discuss sexual harassment accusations against Mr. Sasaki. The Zen Studies Society, in New York, is under new leadership after its longtime abbot, Eido Shimano, was forced out after he was accused of inappropriate sexual liaisons with students and other women.
Paul Karsten, a board member of the Rinzai-ji Zen Center, said the intense relationship between Zen teacher and student can be trouble. For example, in private meetings, some teachers touch students. The touching is never supposed to be sexual, but there can be misunderstandings, or outright abuse.
It's like therapy in that way – an intense but hierarchical one-on-one relationship. It's no big surprise that the priest/teacher/shaman/therapist can parlay that into sex. Priests and teachers get to be seen as special, wise, "spiritual," enlightened – they don't get rich but they do get admiration. No doubt to some it would seem just plain wasteful not to leverage it for sex.
That is everyone else, not just religious people. The Satmar Hasidim may have wanted to protect a beloved member, the Modern Orthodox administrators probably worried about their community's reputation — and the Penn State loyalists enabled Jerry Sandusky. Somehow, the victims never seem as important as the rabbi, the Zen master, the coach. In the words of a once-revered rabbi, Norman Lamm, may as well let the perpetrators "go quietly."
Oh yes I forgot to say coaches.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This year's Taste of Chicago will have a new addition: food trucks.
Mayor Emanuel's office on Friday announced the inclusion of food trucks at the Taste, to be held July 10-14 in Grant Park.
"This will be a great way for many Chicagoans to get a sense of the excitement of this industry and sample some great food," Emanuel said in a news release.


text:
The Center for Advanced Research
on Language Acquisition (CARLA)
is one of the U.S. Department of Education's Title VI
National Language Resource Centers, whose role
is to improve the nation's capacity to teach and learn
foreign languages.
CARLA is engaged in a number of interrelated research and program initiatives related to second language teaching, learning, and assessment.
CARLA supports the professional development of second language teachers through an annual summer institute program and a wide array of regional workshops and international conferences.
CARLA offers many research-based professional development resources and practical instructional materials, most of which are free online.


text:
Schedule your campus visit today!
Students from Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine are onsite at Eli Lilly and Company corporate headquarters in Indianapolis working alongside health care professionals in the pharmaceutical industry.
Lilly announced today that the summer pilot program will also include collaboration with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Indiana Family & Social Services Administration (FSSA) helping students gain insights on access to health care and a broader understanding of how various segments of the health care industry work together for patient care.
The medical student interns at Lilly will visit Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, where they will learn about interactions between insurers and providers of health care, patient coverage, and benefits and contracts that providers have with insurers.
"We're excited to be a part of this unique partnership with Lilly," said Dr. Joseph Fox, medical director for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "It's rare for medical students to be given this perspective during their education, but we believe that understanding the relationship among patients, payers, and health care providers is a vital part of productive interactions in the medical, pharmaceutical, and insurance industries."
The collaboration with Indiana FSSA will include an overview of how state government administers health care to people who have limited means. The session will cover various topics related to Medicaid, from eligibility requirements to physician reimbursement, as well as timely subjects such as the Affordable Care Act and Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0. Students will also review the process of creating health care policy, including how policy makes its way through the General Assembly.
"We appreciate that this program goes beyond the traditional medical curriculum," said Joe Moser, Medicaid director at the Indiana FSSA. "With the healthcare landscape on both the state and federal level continuing to evolve, we look forward to helping to provide these future physicians with the insights to better understand health care public policy."
"Lilly recognizes the importance of external partnerships in scientific and medical research, and education is no different," said Yolanda Johnson-Moton, director of external relations, US Medical Division, Lilly. "Providing students a broader view of the health care system offers them real-world insight into how access to quality care and medicine helps improve health outcomes for patients."
The 10-week internship program with Marian University students runs through August 2014.
Mark Apple
Vice President of Marketing Communications
(317) 955-6775 firstname.lastname@example.com
© 2017 Marian University
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Marian University does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, age or disabilities in the selection of administrative personnel, faculty and staff, and students. *Placement rates are gathered from data collected from graduates within six months of graduation.


text:
Starting this weekend, tennis players of all ages will have a fresh surface to play on at Etowah Park.
Starting this weekend, tennis players of all ages will have a fresh surface to play on at Etowah Park.
A $43,600 project to resurface two tennis courts at the park began Nov. 28 and should be complete by today, said Tim Hopkin, director of the Henderson County Parks and Recreation Department.
Asphalt on the 7- to 8-year-old courts was cracked and degraded, Hopkin said, and there was no guarantee that resurfacing with asphalt wouldn't crack again because of a solvent used when the courts were originally painted.
So the county went with a modular tile system called Flex Court, which overlays the existing asphalt and allows problem areas to be fixed more easily and cheaply.
"If something cracks, we can replace that individual tile instead of replacing the entire court," Hopkin said.
By using different shaded tiles of green, the county was also able to create three playing surfaces to accommodate all age brackets.
Within one court, darker green tiles delineate a 60-by-21-foot surface for kids 10 and under, while on another, two 36-by-18-foot courts are marked out within the larger adult sized court for kids 8 and under.
"On either court, you can play adult games, as well," Hopkin said. "But this allows each court to be scaled down to the capacities of youth players."
The Flex Court surfaces are also in place at Harmon Field in Tryon. Hopkin interviewed players of different ages there and said everyone enjoyed the tiled surface.
"The nice thing about it is when it rains, water doesn't pool up on the court," he said. "The only drawback is frost or ice takes a while to melt on it."
The International Tennis Federation rates the Flex Court as a "medium speed" surface, which is considered ideal for recreational players. Hopkin said the play is "a little slower" than asphalt, but the softer surface dampens its impact on ankles, knees and backs.
With a 25-year life expectancy, Hopkin said the tiled surface will probably outlive his tenure as parks and rec director.


text: Simon Pothier is a comic book artist, illustrator and 3D animator from Montréal, who mainly works under the name SIM. His comics character 'Nat the Merc' was published in the third Zidara9 magazine and also in its own comic book by Éditions Rémi Paradis (2013). Another character by Pothier is 'The Wolfdragon', who has also made an appearance in Zidara9, as well as La Boite à BD. Simon Pothier has also worked as an illustrator for 'Heores of the North'.


text:
Mary Anna Thrall, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Receives 2012 AAVMC Distinguished Teacher Award, Presented by Zoetis
Feb 20, 2013, 04:42 EST
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Professor and veterinarian Mary Anna Thrall from the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) has been chosen by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) to receive the 2012 AAVMC Distinguished Teacher Award, presented by Zoetis (formerly the animal health business of Pfizer), the most prestigious teaching award in veterinary medicine.
Thrall, a veterinary clinical pathologist, will receive the award at the AAVMC's 2013 Annual Conference in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday, March 8, where she will also address conference attendees on what makes a successful teacher within the context of her own experiences.
This long-standing award is presented to an educator in veterinary medicine whose sustained record of teaching excellence and ability, dedication, character and leadership has contributed significantly to the advancement of the profession.
"The goal of the AAVMC Distinguished Teacher Award is to recognize excellence in veterinary professional education and Dr. Thrall is an exceptional honoree," said Dr. Deborah Kochevar, dean of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and president of the AAVMC. "Dr. Thrall joins an elite group of prior recipients whose passion for education and dedication in the classroom and laboratory are an inspiration for their students and their colleagues. I would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Zoetis for their generous sponsorship of this wonderful program."
Dr. Thrall has been dedicated to teaching and began her career student teaching high school Biology as an undergraduate. She has maintained her commitment to teaching excellence ever since. She taught at Colorado State University before moving to Ross where she now serves as a professor of clinical pathology and section head of pathobiology.
"Dr. Thrall's commitment to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, her students and the profession is evident in her mentorship to junior faculty, the collegiality she displays among her team, and her genuine commitment to providing the best educational experience to our students in the classroom," said RUSVM Dean Dr. Elaine Watson. "We are very proud that we can attract top quality faculty, such as Dr. Thrall to our school, and we congratulate her on receipt of this award, one of the highest distinctions presented to a veterinary educator."
Dr. Thrall has participated in the training of more than 40 veterinary clinical pathologists and more than 20 graduate students. In addition, she co-authored Veterinary Hematology and Clinical Chemistry, one of the most widely used textbooks in training veterinary students in clinical pathology and as a reference text in veterinary practices.
Through her teaching experiences, Thrall has learned the value of humility, honesty and the importance of teaching skills that students can apply to the development of lifelong learning. "I have learned that it is not a weakness to say, 'I don't know.' Students not only respect you for this honesty, they will immediately search the topic and let you know what may be the correct answer," said Thrall. "One must emphasize the need for life-long learning, as some of what I tell my students today will not hold true in the future."
Thrall has received numerous other awards and honors that recognize professional excellence, including the Association for Women Veterinarians Distinguished Service Award, a Colorado State University Distinguished Faculty Award, the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine Distinguished Alumna Award, the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology Lifetime Achievement Award, and was recently named a "Pillar of Pathology" by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists .
Her research, supported by a long-term National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant, was focused on bone marrow transplantation for management of lysosomal storage disorders. She has also taught more than 280 national and international continuing education courses.
The national AAVMC Distinguished Teacher Award, presented by Zoetis (formerly the Pfizer Distinguished Teacher Award) is presented annually to a faculty member at a college or school of veterinary medicine in the United States and the Caribbean. It is the most prestigious teaching award in veterinary medicine. Since 1963, the award has been sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health. The company contributes over $15 million in the U.S. each year to support the veterinary profession, in the form of scholarships to students at veterinary colleges, research grants, philanthropy, and products as part of its commitment to the future of the veterinary profession and the educational mission of veterinary colleges. Award nominees are selected by their individual colleges, while a selection committee at the AAVMC chooses the final honoree.
The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) is a nonprofit membership organization working to protect and improve the health and welfare of animals, people, and the environment by advancing academic veterinary medicine. Its members include all 33 veterinary medical colleges in the United States and Canada, eight departments of veterinary science, eight departments of comparative medicine, 12 international schools or colleges of veterinary medicine, and four affiliate international colleges of veterinary medicine: www.aavmc.org
SOURCE Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges


text:
Crab stuffed shrimp
The Copper Kitchen
Crab stuffed shrimp
The Copper Kitchen
8 large shrimp, peeled tail on
1lb jumbo crab meat
1/4cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon worchestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Old Bay
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
2 tablespoons butter
1 fresh lemon
Whisk all ingredients together except for the shrimp and crab. Fold in crab meat gently so as not to break up lumps.
Make a slit from the underside of the shrimp. Place on buttered sheet pan or baking dish.
Top each shrimp with about 2 tablespoons of crab mixture. Brush tops with melted butter.
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes until light brown and cooked.
Squeeze top with fresh lemon.


text:
A high-performance grounding system enhances reliability, reduces maintenance costs, and improves uptime.
For electrical workers, installing a standard grounding system is almost an afterthought — drive two ground rods and you're done. But this is inadequate for today's applications because it creates the potential for unreliable operation and exposes owners to large financial losses.
The requirements for ground resistance levels are more stringent because of the lower operating voltages and higher operating speeds in today's electronics. For example, telecommunications specifiers want an earth resistance of less than 5 ohms, which is less than half the resistance considered high-performance a few years ago. Specifications even vary among industries — some manufacturing processes and medical applications demand less than 3 ohms resistance to earth. We're even seeing "less than 1 ohm" in some specifications.
However, high-performance grounding is more than achieving a low earth resistance. A high-performance ground gives predictable, long-lasting, seasonably stable performance — and it's testable. Testability is important because grounding systems degrade, and damage to them may not be apparent until a catastrophic failure occurs.
The only way to achieve a high-performance grounding system is to engineer it. This allows you to achieve your desired goals without expensive overkill. In other words, an engineered system gives you what you need at the right price.
Begin with the soil.
Soil characteristics play a significant role in total system performance and cost. Accurate soil resistivity data enable precise designs and predictable results. The type of soil, moisture, electrolytic content, and temperature affect soil resistance. Frost line depth, water table level, bedrock, and available space dictate some specifics of the grounding system design. Determine soil resistivity using the Wenner 4 Point test method, or by analyzing soil samples. Soares Book on Grounding contains tables and other resources to help you understand this part of the process.
The design process.
A design firm specializing in grounding system design can provide the best performance ground system available, within the constraints of available area, cost, and equipment being protected. In addition to specialized knowledge, such firms use tools like design software to model a grounding system based on the soil data, design goals, and other factors. After modeling the area, the firm will engineer a grounding system that meets the performance objective — or is the best reasonable effort. When the soil resistivity of an area is so high that a low-resistance ground isn't feasible, bonding and other requirements, such as TVSS, are more critical.
If you're using an outside design firm, make sure it provides a written recommendation along with a drawing of the site footprint illustrating the recommended grounding configuration, quantity and location of electrodes, electrode spacing, and models.
Electrode selection and configuration.
Several electrode types are available. Initial low cost, familiarity, and availability make the copper-clad driven rod a common choice. However, driven rods can have short lives and provide unstable performance. Although the NEC still allows you to use infrastructure components like buried water pipes and building steel as ground electrodes, you can't test them and you can't depend on them in a high-performance ground system (see Sidebar above). Further, the ground path they provide is often a shared lane for noise and transients. Other choices include plates and UFER grounds, but plates are unstable and UFERS are typically not testable.
It's beneficial to consider self-activating, electrolytic grounding systems as well. A 2⅛-in. diameter copper cylinder has better energy-handling capability than conventional driven rods and the electrolytic action dispenses a highly conductive solution that improves performance and provides seasonable stability. At least one such system provides high conductivity (60 ohm-cm resistivity), neutral pH, and moisture retention capabilities.
Bonding vs. isolation.
Some people install isolated ground points in the earth without bonding them to the rest of the facility grounding system, which is dangerous because it creates a potential between electrodes. The myth of the isolated ground as a requirement for sensitive circuits violates the NEC, Ohm's Law, and Kirchoff's Law. An unbounded electrode creates a difference of potential that can damage equipment or electrocute someone.
Bonding allows charges to equalize between objects or surfaces, eliminating the voltage potential between them. Electricity wants to return to the source, so without a bond, the potential increases until the electricity can flow through whatever is between it and the source. Even one bonding error can cause circulating loop conditions, shared noise, and an unpredictable, unstable, and untestable ground system. Remember, lethal, undesirable current doesn't distinguish equipment from people.
Testing and monitoring.
Regardless of grounding system layout, resistance testing is a standard procedure for informed owners of sensitive equipment. The verification of the first resistance results should be part of your maintenance program. This validates design efforts, provides a written statement necessary to obtain the manufacturer's warranty, and establishes a baseline value for trending.
Despite its importance, periodic testing has its weaknesses. If a fault burns a grounding conductor, someone makes a neutral ground bond on the load side, or some other problem arises with your grounding system, you won't know until your next grounding check. And most likely, you'll conduct that check while fixing an urgent, but mysterious, power quality problem causing you downtime.
Continuous monitoring will help you overcome this weakness by warning you early of almost any grounding problems that can arise — and you don't have to disconnect the grounding conductor to find out what your system is doing. Look for a monitor with high-input noise filtration and remote communications abilities, which will allow you to incorporate the instrument into your predictive monitoring scheme. And don't forget the interface — you want something intuitive.
Your grounding system will be only as good as the effort you put into it, and these four-steps are key: test the soil, design the grounding system, install the system per industry standards, and test it frequently. Monitoring helps you keep your system working properly and maintains the high performance you want.
Barsu is an applications engineer with Lyncole Industries, Torrance, Calif.
Sidebar: High-Performance Grounding and the NEC
The purpose of the NEC is to codify the requirements for safety — not performance. The NEC Art. 250 requirement of "25 ohms or less" is a minimum safety standard, long surpassed by the stringent demands of sensitive equipment. Article 250.2 requires every grounding system to be permanent and electrically continuous, and capable of safely carrying the maximum fault current while providing low impedance. A properly designed high performance grounding system doesn't meet NEC requirements — it exceeds them.


text:
This city in Northern Mexico bears the official title, Victoria de Durango. Situated in the Guadiana valley in the heart of the State, Durango has often been called the "pearl of Guadiana", and for good reason. Durango, the most extensive and populous city in the State, was founded as "Villa de Durango" by Francisco de Ibarra on July 8th, 1563. Walking through the historic center of Durango is like opening an architecture book. It boasts the largest number of historic buildings in the north of the country, earning Durango a spot on the route called the "Camino Real de Tierra Adentro", or "Royal Inland Road", declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. With so many imposing buildings, the city of Durango has converted many mansions and palaces into fascinating museums and cultural centers, exhibiting precious antiquities, religious art, historical archives and ethnographic collections which reflect the artistry of the indigenous people who first settled in this region.
But Durango also has ample room for outdoor activities, taking advantage of its wild geography and rich biodiversity. You have outdoor sporting options in the mountains, rivers, lakes, forests and desert areas, or, if you're seeking relaxation, you can take a simple eco-vacation with your family. Visitors to the city of Durango can expect to enjoy excellent tourist services and accommodation, from boutique hotels to cabins built in forests with breathtaking views. When it comes to entertainment, don't forget that since the 1950s, this city has caught the eye of major film producers who immortalized its fine architecture and rugged scenery on film.
The traditional fairs and festivals in the city of Durango are famously colorful. One of the capital's most distinctive celebrations is the Durango National Fair held in July, commemorating the founding of the capital. Another popular event is the Feast of Our Lady of Refuge, which is celebrated with fireworks, processions and regional matachines or religious dances, always accompanied by polka and rondalla bands. A rondalla is a stringed instrument ensemble with a vocalist (for the romantic at heart, the word comes from the Spanish for serenade).


text:
Web Service
Writer submissions
KidsOutAndAbout.com has a number of community contributors, and we are always open to consider articles for publication that would be of interest to parents.
We do not pay for articles, but writers maintain the copyright to their own material, and writing for KidsOutAndAbout.com represents an excellent opportunity for exposure to the parenting community.
Please email Debra Ross, publisher if you have questions or would like to suggest an article or review.


text:
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Don't often ride with a support vehicle? Everything you need to ride there with gear can be found in this section, including rack, seat and saddlebags, Aerostich Messenger Bags, backpacks, and many other storage solutions.
There are no products matching the selectionThis is a custom CMS block displayed if category is empty.
You can replace it with any custom content.


text:
Persian Design Blue Bedsheet with Pillow Cover
List PriceRs. 2,832.00Offer Price Save (40 %)Rs. 1,699.00(Free Shipping India Only)
Select Size
Quantity :
Color :
- Blue
Item Code  :
Check COD Availability
Add to Cart Buy Now
1 Item(s) has been added to your bag.
|Persian Design Blue Bedsheet with Pillow Cover
Color code : BS-26130
|Continue Shopping
Double size Bedsheet with pillows made in 40 sheeting cotton very comfortable and soft available in trendy design and virbrant color.Ideal for home use and gifting purpose.
Size of each pillow: 18x27 inches
Size of Bedsheet: 90x108 Inches
Set Contains: 1 Bedsheet and 2 pillow cover.
Can be machine washed in regular cold water with gentle cycle. Do not bleach. Please wash separately from whites.
(No reviews for this product.)


text:
common name: brown marmorated stink bug
scientific name: Halyomorpha halys Stål (Insecta: Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)
Introduction - Synonymy - Distribution - Description - Life Cycle - Economic Importance - Damage - Nuisance Pest Status - Management - Reporting - Selected References
Introduction (Back to Top)
The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys Stål, is a pest that was first officially reported from the western hemisphere in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 2001 (Hoebeke and Carter 2003). This stink bug may become a major agricultural pest in North America, similar to the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.). Both species are polyphagous pests of various crops, but in the U.S. it has been primarily reported as a household nuisance and ornamental pest. However, in eastern Asia where the BMSB is native or indigenous, it is a pest on fruit trees and soybeans.
Figure 1. An egg mass of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål, and newly emerged 1st instar nymphs are shown. Photograph by Karen Bernhard, Lehigh County Extension, Pennsylvania State University.
Synonymy (Back to Top)
There is considerable confusion in the genus and a revision is needed. All references to Halyomorpha species in Japan, Korea, and east-China are Halyomorpha halys (Rider 2005).
Distribution (Back to Top)
Although the first specimen was positively identified in 2001 (Hoebeke and Carter 2003), there were numerous reports of a nuisance stink bug in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at least several years prior to that date. Interviews with homeowners indicated that there were likely breeding populations in Allentown as early as 1996, and BMSB has been reported in 34 Pennsylvania counties as of 2011 (Hoebeke and Carter 2003, Jacobs 1996). BMSB has been reported as detected and/or intercepted in several U.S. states. If you have questions regarding BMSB distribution in your state, please contact your local Cooperative Extension Service, State Department of Agriculture, or National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) laboratory.
Description (Back to Top)
Typical of other stink bugs, the BMSB has a shield-shaped body and emits a pungent odor when disturbed. With a mottled brown, 12 to 17 mm long (approximately 1/2 inch) body, it has characteristic alternating dark and light bands across the last two antennal segments that appear as a single white band in both nymphs and adults. This is the most distinguishing characteristic in the field, although it can easily be confused with other hemipterans, including native brown stink bugs from the genera Acrosternum, Brochymen, Euschistus and Parabrochymena (Eger personal communication, Hobeke and Carter 2003).
Example species that could be confused with the brown marmorated stink bug include Brochymena spp.; the brown stink bug, Euschitus servus; the green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare; leaf-footed bugs; boxelder bugs; Euthyrhynchus floridanus; and other similar hemipterans.
Eggs: The white or pale green barrel-shaped eggs are laid in clusters on the undersides of leaves. Egg masses have about 25 eggs that are only about 1 mm in diameter but become apparent when nymphs have recently emerged, as they will stay at the egg mass for several days. In Pennsylvania, eggs first appeared in late June, but females continued to lay egg masses until September. Although only one generation was observed, multiple generations are likely as the distribution spreads to the south (Bernon et al. 2004).
Nymphs: As with all immature stink bugs, the nymphs lack fully developed wings and have been described as tick-like in appearance, ranging in size from 2.4 mm (1st instar) to 12 mm (5th instar). Nymphs need to molt, or shed their outer skin (exoskeleton), as they progress through five different stages or nymphal instars. First instars are colored orange or red and remain clustered around the egg mass, sometimes until they molt to the 2nd instar stage. The 2nd instar begins to develop an almost black appearance, and subsequent instars (3rd, 4th, and 5th) begin to acquire more of the adult BMSB coloration.
Figure 2. First and 2nd instar nymphs are shown dispersing from an egg mass of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Photograph by Gary Bernon, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Figure 3. A 2nd instar nymph of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål. The white marking on the antennae is possibly the best field identification characteristic. Photograph by Deepak Matadha, Rutgers University.
Figure 4. Fifth instar nymph of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål, on raspberry in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Photograph by Gary Bernon, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Adults: Adults are 12 to17 mm long (approximately 1/2 inch), and have a mottled appearance. Alternating dark and light bands occur on the last two antennal segments. Additionally, the head and pronotum are covered with patches of coppery or bluish metallic-colored punctures and the margins of the pronotum are smooth as compared to the toothed, jagged pronotal margin of Brochymena (Hoebeke 2002). The exposed lateral margins of the abdomen are marked with alternate bands of brown and white. Faint white bands are also evident on the legs.
Figure 5. Two adults and one 5th instar nymph of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål, in Allentown, Pennsylvania on crab apple. Photograph by Gary Bernon, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Life Cycle (Back to Top)
In Pennsylvania, the BMSB has only one generation a year, corresponding to the northern part of its native range. However, in southern China up to five generations occur each year, and the same pattern can be expected as the BMSB spreads south (Hoebeke and Carter 2003, Hoffmann 1931). The adults mate in the spring approximately two weeks after emerging from diapause or the resting phase. After a short period, the females begin laying egg masses. Egg masses are laid at approximately weekly intervals, and each female lays as many as 400 eggs in her lifetime. In Pennsylvania, females were observed laying eggs from June to September. Since females continue to lay new egg masses throughout the season, different nymphal stages were often observed on the same host plant.
First instar nymphs emerge four to five days after eggs are laid. Nymphs are solitary feeders, but they occasionally aggregate between overlapping leaves or leaf folds (Bernon et al. 2004). BMSB has five nymphal instars, and each stage lasts approximately one week, depending upon temperature. Laboratory studies indicate that adults are sexually mature two weeks after their final molt (Hoebeke and Carter 2003). Adults are very active and drop from plants or fly when disturbed. Again, the best field characteristic for adults is the white band on the antennae.
Figure 6. Six 5th instar nymphs of brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål, with one 5th instar nymph of green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare (Say) in Allentown, Pennsylvania on black cherry. Photograph by Gary Bernon, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Economic Importance (Back to Top)
BMSB is polyphagous, and is a pest of several important crops in its native range. In Japan it attacks shade and fruit trees, vegetables, and leguminous crops (Hoebeke 2002). In southern China, it feeds on flowers, stems and pods of various legumes, and also on:
- flowers of hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.,
- stems of celosia, Celosia argentea L.,
- fruits of black night-shade, Solanum nigrum L., and
- malabar/Indian/ceylon spinach, Basella rubra L.
Other host plants of economic importance include:
- apple, Malus domestica L.,
- cherry, Prunus avium L.,
- Citrus spp.,
- fig, Ficus,
- Japanese apricot, Prunus mume Siebold and Zuccarini,
- Japanese persimmon, Diospyros kak L.,
- mulberry, Morus sp.,
- peach, Prunus persica Batsch,
- pear, Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai,
- the princess tree, Paulownia tomentosa Thunb., and
- soybean, Glycine max Merrill,
(Hoebeke 2002, Hoebeke and Carter 2003).
Unfortunately, it is difficult to assess the damage caused by one species of stink bug, since several species cause similar damage. A similar situation may occur in the southern U.S., as the BMSB spreads south and overlaps with the distribution of the southern green stink bug (Bernon 2004 et al.).
Originally, populations in Pennsylvania were limited to ornamental plants, garden crops, and fruit and shade trees in suburban areas and urban landscapes (Bernon et al. 2004). Damage was observed on several ornamentals, including butterfly-bush (Buddleia spp.), and the princess tree (P. tomentosa). Both adults and nymphs fed on the leaves of these two host plants, and leaf damage was very apparent by the end of the season (Bernon et al. 2004). These two ornamentals may attract the stink bug as it spreads to new areas, and homeowners are likely to be the first to see this new pest. Significant damage was also reported on urban peach and pear crops. Following the first official identification of BMSB, Bernon et al. (2004) found BMSB on over 60 host plants.
As the BMSB continues to expand its range, it is likely to invade agricultural areas and may pose a risk to various crops. Nielson and Hamilton (2009) conducted an extensive study of BMSB populations at farms in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and found approximately 25% damage per fruit tree. These studies critically indicate the potentially increasing pest pressure that may occur in tree fruits, particularly pears, apples, and peaches, as a result of the introduction of BMSB. Nielsen and Hamilton (2009) predict that pest pressure from BMSB could be more severe in southern U.S. peach-producing states, as it is possible that more than two generations per year would occur in warmer climates.
Figure 7. Early and late instar nymphs of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål, feeding on Asian pear in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Photograph by Deepak Matadha, Rutgers University.
Figure 8. Nymphs of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål, feeding on green beans in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Photograph by Deepak Matadha, Rutgers University.
Figure 9. Adults of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål, feeding on peach in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Characteristic damage is evident. Photograph by Gary Bernon, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Figure 10. Two adults and a nymph of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål, feeding on one of its main hosts, princess tree in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Characteristic feeding damage of the brown marmorated stink bug is also evident. Late instar nymphs of leaf-footed bugs (Hemiptera: Coreidae) are often mistakenly submitted as brown marmorated stink bug samples. The Coreidae pictured is probably the western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann. Photograph by Gary Bernon, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Damage (Back to Top)
Similar to other stink bugs, the nymphs and adults have a piercing-sucking type of mouthpart. In order to obtain the nutrients of the liquid part of the fruit, stink bugs use these mouthparts in a straw-like fashion by piercing the fruit. Small necrotic spots on fruit and leaf surfaces often result from feeding damage, and it may be compounded by secondary infections and scarring as the fruit matures. In particular, affected apples often exhibit pitting and discoloration symptoms and peaches frequently display a characteristic distortion referred to as "catfacing" (Hamilton and Shearer 2003). Even if a fruit such as a peach is still edible, it may not be suitable for market. Similar damage to other crops, such as soybeans, is more likely to occur in the southern U.S. Because the BMSB is polyphagous, or feeding on a wide range of host plants, almost any crop with fruit may be at risk.
In addition to direct feeding damage, The BMSB is also known to potentially vector or spread a witch's broom phytoplasm in princess tree, Paulownia tomentosa, in Asia (Jones and Lambdin 2009). Incidences of vector transmission of BMSB in the U.S. have not been reported.
Nuisance Pest Status (Back to Top)
Late in the season, adults will enter homes and other buildings when seeking sheltered sites to overwinter or diapause. During the several weeks of peak flight, many insects can enter homes through any small opening, mostly around windows. In Japan, the BMSB is a well-known nuisance pest for this reason, and the same situation is now common in Allentown, Pennsylvania in late September and early October. This nuisance behavior resulted in many complaints to the Lehigh County (Allentown) Cooperative Extension Service, and ultimately resulted in the identification of this new invasive pest. As the insect spreads to new areas, this aggregation behavior will probably again attract attention and ironically assist in monitoring its distribution. The nuisance aspect is a major concern in suburban areas and may distract from the potential future agricultural risks (Bernon 2004).
Management (Back to Top)
The effectiveness of various insecticide classes to control of BMSB is evaluated in Nielsen et al. (2008). Remember to read and follow all pesticide labels prior to attempting application. In some cases, pesticide application must be conducted by a pest control applicator. A newly described species, Trissolcus halymorphae Yang (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is an egg parasitoid that has been identified as the primary biological control agent responsible for the management of BMSB in northern China (Yang et al. 2009). This parasitoid averages a 50% mortality rate for BMSB populations, and it was the only natural enemy identified with a mortality rate exceeding 10%. Trissolcus halymorphae is currently not known to occur in the U.S. with existing populations of BMSB. Future management of BMSB populations in orchards or other commodity-based fields will probably consist of a combination of integration of reduced-risk pesticides and biological control.
Figure 11. Telenomus podisi (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), a generalist stink bug parasitoid that was recently recorded for the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål. The host plant in this photo is a princess tree, Paulownia tomentosa, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Photograph by Gary Bernon, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Indoor nuisance pest problems. Mechanical exclusion and chemical control have been suggested for preventing nuisance, overwintering pest problems in residential homes and commercial businesses (Jacobs 2009). BMSB can be mechanically excluded by sealing cracks and other building openings with quality silicone or silicone latex caulk. Damaged screens on doors or windows should be repaired or replaced. Some synthetic pyrethroid insecticides available to commercial pesticide applicators may be applied to the exterior of the home just prior to fall aggregations, but the effectiveness of these chemical sprays is only temporary. Sunlight will degrade synthetic pyrethroid insecticides within a few days to a week of the application.
Urban pest management. Occasionally stink bugs were observed to damage ornamentals in Allentown, including butterfly bush, Paulownia shade trees and crabapples. Although insecticides were used, plant damage was minimal and most control efforts were focused on suppression of nuisance population. Despite insecticidal treatments, some damage was still observed on backyard fruit trees. This documented damage to agriculturally important crops suggests that there will be a need for IPM when populations reach agricultural areas (Bernon et al. 2004).
Reporting (Back to Top)
Reporting in Florida. Please report suspect BMSB samples to the UF/IFAS Cooperative Extension Service (CES) or the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry. Although the brown mottled color is distinctive, there are several native species of brownish stink bugs that will look very similar to the BMSB. Established populations of BMSB have not been confirmed in Florida, and specimen identification will need to be confirmed by a specialist. Only dead specimens should be mailed to county CES offices or diagnostic laboratories.
- Sample Submission Form for the UF/IFAS Insect Identification Laboratory
- UF/IFAS Distance Diagnostic and Identification System
- Find your local Florida County Cooperative Extension Service Office
- Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Sample Submission Instructions
Selected References (Back to Top)
- Bernon G, Bernhard KM, Hoebeke ER, Carter ME , Beanland L. (January 2004). Halyomorpha halys, (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug; Are trees the primary host for this new invasive pest? GTR-NE-332. Proceedings of the XV USDA Interagency Research Forum on Gypsy Moth and Other Invasive Species 2004. USDA Northern Research Station.(17 February 2017)
- Bloetcher B, Jones SC, Welty C. (2008). Halyomorpha halys: a new state record. PowerPoint presentation available for NPDN First Detector training. NPDN No. 0026. National Plant Diagnostic Network. (no longer available online).
- CDFA. (2005). Report covering period from July 2002 through July 2005. California Plant Pest & Disease Report. Volume 22, No. 1. California Department of Food and Agriculture. (17 February 2017)
- Eger J. RE: Brochymena, Parabrochymena, Florida. DowAgro. email@example.com
- Halbert SE. (February 2009). Tri-ology. DACS-P-00124. Vol. 48(1). Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry. (17 February 2017)
- Hamilton GC, Shearer PW. (September 2003). Brown marmorated stink bug-a new exotic insect in New Jersey. Rutgers Cooperative Extension. (17 February 2017)
- Jacobs S. (May 2009). Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys. Insect Advice from Extension, Pennsylvania State University. (17 February 2017)
- Jones JR, Lambin, PL. 2009. New county and state records for Tennessee of an exotic pest, Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), with potential economic and ecological implications. Florida Entomologist 92: 177-179.
- Khrimian A, Shearer PW, Zhang A, Hamilton GC, Aldrich JR. 2008. Field trapping of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, with geometric isomers of methyl 2,4,6-Decatrienoate. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemicals 56: 197-203.
- Lehman R. 2009. Personnel Communication. Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (retired).
- MIPSP. (February 2008). Brown marmorated stink bug. Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project. 17 February 2017)
- NAPIS (May 2009). Reported status of brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys. National Agricultural Pest Information System Pest Tracker. (no longer available online)
- Nielsen AL, Hamilton GC. 2009. Seasonal occurance and impact of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in tree fruit. Journal of Economic Entomology 102: 113-1140.
- Nielsen AL, Shearer PW, Hamilton GC. 2008. Toxicity of insecticides to Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) using glass-vial bioassays. Journal of Economic Entomology 101: 1439-1442.
- Rider (September 2005). Halyomorpha halys Stål, 1855. Pentatomoidea Home page. (17 February 2017)
- Yang Z, Yao Y, Oiu L, Li Z. 2009. A new species of Trissolcus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) parasitizing eggs of Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in China with comments on its biology. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 102: 39-47.


text:
"And you can never ever remember what the force 1-9 corresponds to in wind speed anyway, so it becomes some "translated" thing in between that you can never remember nor make sense out of it..."
This part is definitely true I can never remember which number is what strength wind. Do entire trees start shaking at bf6 or bf7 I dont remember but I do know that it is something I look for, is the entire tree in motion, or just large branches. Definitely useful.


text:
This report meticulously analyzes the essential details of the Global Portable Medical Power Supply Devices. Described in a ground-up manner, the report presents an all-encompassing overview of the market based on the factors that are predictable to have a substantial and determinate impact on the market's developmental prospects over the prognosis period.
Download Sample Pages @ www.kminsights.com/request-sample-68867
Obtaining market-related data is not a very difficult task. It is the task of filtering out the superfluous parts and compiling pertinent information that actually matters or can solve a business issue at hand.
The absence of steadfast resources for undertaking focused research that results in the collection of the most profitable data is one of the most common inadequacies of inbound research activities.
The report includes data that can help businesses in handling this issue with ease and provides detailed qualitative and quantitative details concerning to the market elements that administrations are interested in.
With this report, an organization can have easy access to the details that will have the most substantial bearing on the overall development of the Global Portable Medical Power Supply Devices Market or the sectors that matter the most to organizations. The report is accumulated with the intent of providing necessary market information to vendors functioning in the Global Portable Medical Power Supply Devices Market.
It thus makes for a resourceful data depository that can help decision-makers devise the most effective business strategies.
The report also includes an in-depth synopsis of the competitive scenario and regulatory framework of the Global Portable Medical Power Supply Devices Market. This will provide readers a clear understanding of the state of competition, challenges, major opportunities, and the major rules, guidelines, plans, and policies impacting the market.
Download Sample Pages @ www.kminsights.com/request-sample-…nbsp;
News From
Category: Market Research Publishers and RetailersCompany about: Key Market Insights is a stand-alone organization with a solid history of advancing and exchanging market research reports and logical surveys delivered by our numerous transnational accomplices, which incorporate both huge multinationals and littler, more expert concerns. Our online stage, KMInsights.com, offers an unmatched gathering of market examination reports, organization audits, databooks, articles, periodical distributions, databases, on-line endorser administrations, and a great deal m ...
For more information:


text:
A natural occurrence within stores and shopping malls where you are separated from friends or family by a scuffling barricade best known as old age pensioner.
"Where the hell where you, we've been outside Gregg's the bakers for ages!".
"Sorry I got Biddy Pinned".
"Sorry I got Biddy Pinned".
by Richigo December 04, 2010
buy the domain for your recipe vlog


text:
The Small Town: Rugby, North Dakota Population 2,876 (2010)
The Claim to Fame: The Geographic Center of North America
Some claims to fame require some effort, such as a state championships in basketball or building the world's largest buffalo or the largest quilt. Other claims to fame are just dumb luck. Such is the case with Rugby, North Dakota, the geographic center of North America. Rugby just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
Or was it?
There are those who say that, in spite of the big stone obelisk and all the t-shirts and post cards, this particular king has no clothes, that the actual geographic center of North America is actually in Balta or Orrin, North Dakota. Or out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of a slough. Depending on how you define North America, the center of the continent may actually even be in South Dakota. Pierre, South Dakota once made the claim in the 80's and Rugby quickly threatened them with a law suit.
In Rugby's defense, the real experts say that pinpointing the actual center is impossible due to a number of factors, and Rugby is as good a guess as any. Let's just keep the big pile of rocks in Rugby for now and congratulate the community on being at least somewhere "near" the center of North America.


text:
|Select A Product
|Review Shopping Cart
|Place Your Order
|Order Processed!
You can order hosting and register a domain name for FREE. Alternatively, you can also host a domain you already own. In that case, you will still be able to use your free domain registrations any time after your account has been setup.


text:
Hi everyone, glad to see you guys here. My name's Jack, and I'm a 24 y.o. true porn admirer! If fake orgasms and staged porn make you wanna throw up, we have a lot in common. On my site you won't find any of that, but only real homemade sex videos, submitted by teen next-door girls themselves or by their boyfriends secretly. Of course I moderate all uploaded stuff and share the money I earn with guys who submit best high-rated amateur porn video clips! Cum join the fun. Share your own home porn or watch and rate your fav ones!
All models were at least 18 years old.
Amateur Upskirt Vids
18 U.S.C. 2257 Record-Keeping Requirements Compliance statement
Customer support:


text:
Nutrien Children's Discovery Museum
Unit 116, 2325 Preston Avenue South (in Market Mall)
Saskatoon SK S7J 2G2
Saskatoon SK S7J 2G2
Phone: 306-683-2555
Website: http://www.museumforkids.sk.ca
Email: email@example.com
Website: http://www.museumforkids.sk.ca
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
The Children's Discovery Museum is a place where children learn through play. Our exhibits and programming foster creativity, curiosity and a lifelong love of learning. Visit today for some serious fun!
Monday to Saturday: 9:30am-4:00pm, Sunday: 12:00pm-4:00pm. Priority given to group visits on Mondays and Tuesdays, please check our website for closures due to groups.
$3.50 per person (child or adult). Free for under 1.


text:
Did you know 270 Children die every year in School through Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?
No? You can help cut that death toll today...
We're raising money to provide a life saving Defibrillator for Husborne Crawley Lower School and the surrounding community to ensure Safety for Children, Staff, Visitors and the Public in the unfortunate but frequent case of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
By having the Automated External Defibrillator available to the surrounding public 24/7 this means that we can help cut death tolls that are increasing every year.
The AED is going to be installed on the outside of the school to be available to both the School and the local community 24/7. If the defibrillator is placed onto the patient who is in Cardiac Arrest within 3 minutes they will have a 70% chance of survival.
The amount we're trying to raise is £2300, this will fund:
- Cardiac Science G5 Fully Automatic Defibrillator* - £1150
- Storage Solution - £590
- AED Sleeve - £42
- Paediatric Pads - £60
- Sponsorship Board - £50
- Delivery - £24
- Crowdfunder fees - 5%
- GoCardless Fees - 1%
- VAT (Sadly we have to!) - 20%
As part of the service; AEDdonate provides all the Administration, Essential Public Awareness Campaign, Window Stickers, Certificates and Ongoing After Care Services, available 24/7.
We are working alongside the National Cardiac Charity SADS UK to enable that every Child across the UK is safe if they suffer a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. 270 Children die in Schools every year through Sudden Cardiac Arrest, we want to cut that NOW!
Anne Jolly; CEO SADS UK: "All schools must now be equipped with a fire extinguisher, yet there is more chance of a cardiac arrest happening in schools, than a fire breaking out. Many lives have already been saved by those schools already equipped with an AED. If more schools follow suit even more lives can be saved."
The Reward Packages:
*The Cardiac Science G5 Automated Defibrillator is a leader in the market with the devices being chosen for sites such as Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament and the FA (Football Association). It provides fully automated voice insturctions to the user and only requires the user to place a set of pads on the patient, the AED will conduct the rest.


text:
For discussion, see:
It won't even install properly for me.
Or rather, it installs, but then upon booting up it can't find the installation.
Bugs: Totem doesn't play properly (colors wrong, no sound, very slow frames). Soln: I use MPlayer instead.
Benefits: Hot-adding monitors works perfectly! I'm selling my old laptop that I was keeping around just for driving my big screen.
The beta installed and worked perfectly for me. Then one of the updates broke my X (something to do with the Nvidia drivers) and I couldn't fix it, so I've gone back to the beta and won't upgrade until I can test-install on another partition.
About the only improvement I've noticed is that composite was enabled by default for the first time.
The perpetual state of brokeness regarding sound input
I'm kind of a corner case, seeing as how I installed it just to see if 1. a debootstrapped system would be usable 2. it would run in coLinux.
Being a corner case lets me find issues regular users wouldn't. For instance, since this is coLinux, there is no graphical framebuffer for Xorg to run in, so I edited /etc/gdm.conf and changed the Standard X server to Xtightvnc instead of Xorg. This results in two major usability issues:
All of these issues are VNC specific, hence corner cases. I'm not too bothered since the only issue that cannot be worked around is the performance issue, which is tolerable.
I haven't been able to test sound at all, since coLinux does not provide that functionality, so I have nothing to say on the PulseAudio front.
Additionally, coLinux is a Linux kernel in itself (kind of like User-mode Linux, except for Windows), so any scheduler wonkiness does not affect me, as I'm not booting the Ubuntu generic kernel at all.
Follow up: Turns out the speed and sound issues were due to PulseAudio. Switching all outputs to ALSA fixed everything. They REALLY fucked that one up.
dist-upgrading from 7.10 on my P-M/Centrino laptop with Realtek Intel HD Audio killed my sound.
Will try a clean install soonish.
But hey, it's okay, 8.10 will have an OpenGL face browser! Isn't that freaking AWESOME?!
Staying with 7.04 here. 7.10 was a non-installable failure (for me) as well.
I'm probably just going to move sideways to debian once feisty support ends.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck Pulseaudio. Nuff said.
Priorities, man!
I am disapointed. The group scheduler bug in the generic kernel is horrible!!! I can't believe they shipped with that. I am running it currently but only because I don't want to wipe clean and load of gutsy again.
I for one will reevaluate later this summer when 8.04.1 is released along with fedora 9.
So I've played with Linux on and off since Slackware I installed from floppy disks back in the early 90's. This is the first time I've ever made an effort to get it 100% useful and aside from the fact that I had hardware issues (since resolved, real problems with the D630, not Ubuntu's fault) I am quite happy. The only thing I can't do is run the VI client (see my post).
All in all I am quite happy. 7.10 didn't support my video out of the box but 8.04 is kickin'
keeping 7.1 xubuntu on the main pc, putting kubuntu 8.04 w/kde4 on the mediapc
What Bob Servo said.
The new kernel fails to boot for me (well... occasionally it'll boot as far as text mode, but usually it hangs before that point).
Using the old kernel, everything works OK except that I still have no sound (since Gutsy) and my power button doesn't function.
I'm using Kubuntu and haven't really noticed any improvements - just newer software. KDE4 doesn't work properly for me in Hardy (worked in Gutsy)
I can't seem to use audio in two apps at once. Specifically, if I am using listening to music in Rhythmbox and pause it to watch a Flash video the sound does not work in the Flash video. In order to get it to work I have to close both programs and then open Firefox to get audio in Flash. This problem exists on both my laptop and desktop and did not exist in 7.10
I assume this is the Pulseaudio problem everyone has been talking about. Is there a way to fix this? Someone mentioned just using ALSA -- how do I go about doing that?
Another thing I dislike is that the behavior of plugging in a USB drive has changed -- an icon no longer appears on my desktop and the partitions no longer automatically appear in Nautilus windows.
I'm going to keep using it but hopefully I can fix these minor problems. I haven't really seen anything that has greatly improved over 7.10 either, but that may be because 7.10 worked so well already. I am pretty underwhelmed, I suppose.
It's slightly amusing to me that you guys are having trouble with audio when it's working fine for me even when I am listening to Amarock and using Wine to play WCIII at the same time.
Lucky and dumb ftw.
Not installed it yet. Haven't had time. Sounds like I'll be keeping my sblive value for another year or so (hardware mixing ftw).
My first attempt was frustrating. My first try at live-cd mode worked perfectly while every attempt after would hang or crash in various weird ways.
I finally checked the CD media & md5sum of the iso I downloaded and it looked like I had a bad burn.
I redownloaded, reburned, and am humming merrily away.
I'm sure I'll run into something eventually but I haven't found anything yet I can't do.
System -> Preferences -> Sound
Change every drop-down tab (except default mixer tracks) to ALSA.
Well that was simple... what the hell is the point of PulseAudio anyway??
let adept run os upgrade of kubuntu. It seems to be working OK. I tried the desktop effects and to be truthful I turned them off after about 10 minutes. My hardware just isn't up to the task. For what I use a computer for I need the cpu and the graphics card to be concentrating on running apps as opposed to making windows fold up like a dish rag when you close or minimize.
Ok, that's what Iget for shooting my mouth off. I had the same problem as everyone else, I just was too obtuse to notice it. Back to ALSA for me.
I haven't had any significant issues... my video card apparently doesn't support compositing with the drivers out of the box anymore, but that's corrected with the restricted drivers for my hardware (radeon mobility x300).
Having FF3b5 in Ubuntu is worth a "wouldn't go back" for me, though. I've been using nightlies on Windows for a long time now (since beta 2, I think) and it's too painful to go back to FF2 now .
GNOME gets more retarded, KDE4 has the dreaded dev-knows-best disease. Woohoo, go *buntu!
Doesn't GNOME suffer from the same said disease?
For some reason I suffer from high iowait CPU usage with 8.04, even after installing cleanly, and had to go back to 7.10.
Frankly, I;'m worried. I haven't heard a lot of people talking about the same problem and fear I may be one of the few people that will fall through the cracks and never see a fix. It could end-up meaning I have to stay with Gutsy indefinitely, or go back to XP. I suppose OS X is an option (yuck).
What I did (on Debian sid, which also uses a 2.6.24 kernel) was to switch back to the old default, the anticipatory elevator, by editing /etc/sysfs.conf and doing (e.g.)
I find that this significantly reduces the amount of seeking involved and results in better overall performance for me. cfq (the current default) is all well and good if you actually want an equal amount of time spent on each requester, but IME it's worse to have an equal but larger amount of time spent on each requester than to exploit spatial-temporal locality of requests to avoid seeking, even if it means some processes have more requests serviced in unit time than others.
It installed fine on my MBPro, other than my touchpad, I have had no issues.
I liked it so much I reformatted and removed Leopard.
Add Compiz FTW.
I just poked the fate bear and did an "upgrade" through the software update thing.
It went smooth all the way until I rebooted.
Display resolution was way off, but I managed that by removing xorg.conf and making a new one with wossname tool recommended.
sudo didn't work because my host alias was missing, I could fix that through the admin panel though.
Then I rebooted and it had lost my file system.
So I guess Gutsy's not ready for prime time?
I know very little about Ubuntu other than 7.10 works great on one of my older boxes.
Gutsy's great. Hardy's not ready for prime time.
I installed Hardy on my laptop yesterday, sound and Xorg "just work" (unlike in Gutsy or OpenSuse 10), setting up compiz (and the non-free ATI driver) was a three-click affair. Wifi is still problematic, but it's never worked well in Linux.
I made a "clean" reinstall instead, not formatting my /home partition, and entering my former user name during install.
It installed nice and fast and eventually turned up my former desktop pristinely, complete with browser bookmarks and panel applets and all. Minus the earlier 7.10 flaws*.
I am VERY pleased.
* - Like Xorg forgetting my vidcard one out of three reboots, or the console being dead black when I CTRL+ALT+F1'ed and such.
Plus Sides-
Screen Resolution: Finally correct by default, heck at first it seemed almost TOO high but I've gotten used to it.
Firefox3Beta5: Destroys FF2 as far as features and resource usage go, although I've run into an odd error or two its very uncommon and only happens with dozens of tabs overall. Can't thank Canonical too much for this one, although its better integrated than when I attempted to install it myself.
PulseAudio: FUBARed music playback, thanks for nothing there. I can get sound from streaming video (when it doesn't decide to break) but try to play any of my Vorbis files or the few remaining MP3s and I get a sound input error.
Nvidia Drivers: Still utter garbage with the 7900GS, thanks for nothing Nvidia. Try to use the drivers and wind up with EDID broken and 640x800 resolution (1024x720 max). Can't really blame this one on Canonical; my next card WILL be ATI, there is no excuse now for Nvidia to not be improving their drivers and releasing specs, even when they work 2D performance is horrible.
Overall less than satisfied, if 8.04.1 doesn't fix PulseAudio I really am switching distros, until then back to ALSA.
In fact, I tried to install 8.04 on an old laptop and failed due to the lack of Video support.
On the contrary, on my brand new laptop, no problem where found and everything runs smoothly
Supposedly the kernel scheduler can also be fixed by installing the -server kernel.
What do you mean? I run a 7600GT and 2D is snappy as ever. Hell, even 3D is faster than ever and it seems that my serious performance problem with WoW in Wine is quite mitigated. And I didn't even have to install the nVidia drivers myself, I just clicked the Ubuntu Restricted Driver thingamagig and wham! As contrary to 7.10 which just fucked up my system when I did that.
Also, are you seriously suggesting that ATI drivers are better, or is this just another politically correct Linux fanboy lie where the merits of open drivers is pushed as the eternal holy grail, while closed drivers are perpetually reviled as inferior?
I will say this I tried Ubuntu in 06 and it was a nightmare. So I put it off until it matured. It has. I downloaded Ubuntu onto my Gateway CX26xx tablet PC. The last time I did this the wireless didn't work and I quickly fled the scene.
When I heard this new one was coming out I thought I will give i a try.
WOW! What a difference a couple years makes. They improved it so much that I finally jumped to it instead of the hell of Windows.
The Internal WIFI card was recognized. Everything about it is better. granted I am still learning but because of the sheer ease and usability of it. I am now a linux head.
One thing that is hard sometimes is to find out what kind of software will work best for you. For example, VMware is a fucking nightmare to install. So I am not going to use it. Instead after searching around I came accross VirtualBox by Sun. HOLY SHIT what a great fucking program. Easy to use and setup. Granted I read a guide a while back that said if you are new and just getting into Ubuntu to try and install everything from synaptic. Now this isnt possible for all things. But the more I learn and understand how powerful and flexible the command line is the more I fall in love with linux.
Not to mention the fucking EyeCandy puts MS and Apple to shame.
Good for Ubuntu for making a great desktop!
After an earlier failed installation, I convinced myself to try again and woe and behold it worked..and has been working wonderfully.
This is a complete turnaround as far as my last distro, but it was several years old (mandrake Linux 9.0)and I'd not upgraded (my fault I know.)
Cuos appears to be broken. I am unable to print due to unknown filter errors.
Sound Juicer sucks as well when trying to copy a cd.
Other than that I like it.


text:
"I'm obviously so happy for them, but if anything I loved the privacy," the 32-year-old reality TV star said in an interview Wednesday.
That bit of privacy went out the window when Kardashian's boyfriend, Kanye West, revealed during a Dec. 30 concert in Atlantic City, N.J., that they are expecting their first child together.
Now that the word is out, Kardashian says her motherly instincts have made her pull back from being so open about her personal life.
"I think that definitely kicks in where you're like, 'OK, I have to go in protect mode,' and as ironic as it sounds, you live your life on a reality show but then when you grow up ... certain things change your life that make you want to be more private and this is definitely one of them."
The couple went public with their relationship in March.
Kardashian married NBA player Kris Humphries in August 2011 and their divorce is not finalized.
West rarely grants interviews, and the 35-year-old rapper is the ying to the Kardashian family's "out there" yang. Kim says she is somewhat influenced by West's approach.
"When you spend time with someone, you learn things from them, so I see what (his) views are in wanting to be private, so that's a choice we make together as a family just in how we're gonna raise our kid," she said. "... But my personal experience of having really open relationships on the show, I've done that, and for me I feel like I got really scrutinized when people didn't maybe understand my decisions at some point, so I feel like after that experience I've become more private more so than just like Kanye's views or anything."
Kardashian is due in July.
A new season of her reality show with her sister Kourtney, "Kourtney and Kim Take Miami," premieres Sunday on E! (9 p.m. EST).


text:
Interview: Jim Breuer "And Laughter for All"
Stand up comedy is one of the hardest professions in the entertainment business and with over 25 years in the business Jim Breuer knows what it takes. Many of you will remember him from movies liked "Half-Baked" and from his SNL days with skits like 'Goatboy'. On November 26th Jim will be releasing his new special "And Laughter For All" which was number one on Netflix last month. Jim took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for us at Movie Room Reviews.
Nick Leyland from Movie Room Reviews: I just got done watching your And Laughter and laughed really hard. It's great, man.
Jim Breuer: Oh, cool, thank you. I appreciate that.
MRR: It comes out on the 26th on DVD. But it already came out last month on Netflix and did really well, right?
Jim Breuer: Yeah, number one.
MRR: That's awesome.
Jim Breuer: Most downloaded out of all their comedies.
MRR: Congratulations.
Jim Breuer: Thanks.
MRR: Well you've been doing comedy for quite a while now. How well do you think this special, And Laughter For All, will do for long time Breuer fans?
Jim Breuer: I don't exhaust my thought process in that. I used to and then I always got disappointed. Any time I put stuff out there, there's nothing I can do about it. If people love it, they love it. I think they're gonna love it. I think it's gonna respond very well with multi-generations. I think being the most downloaded on Netflix was pretty exciting. But like I said, I don't put too much thought process into that because you'd drive yourself nuts.
I'm already on My New Hour. I'm touring My New Hour. I hope this thing does really well because I think it's really funny and I think it's great for metal heads and for people with families and kids, which is why I call it And Laughter For All because anyone can watch this and go, "All right, I just found something really funny in this thing," 'cause there is a lot of belly laughs in it. So I think Breuer fans are obviously gonna love it, but I think it's gonna branch out to more fans.
MRR: Well, some of the comedy in this special, like you said, revolves around family and stuff like that. For you, does comedy change as your surroundings change, like having a family or getting older?
Jim Breuer: Oh, yeah, absolutely. I mean, even My Newer Hour, I talk more about taking care of my elderly parents. I read text arguments that I had with my wife. [chuckle] They were real text arguments. So yeah, I only talk about things I know and what I can grasp and what everybody can relate to. So I've kind of always been that way. SNL and Half Baked pushed me in a different direction 'cause there was a big crowd. "Oh, he's the guy from SNL. He's the guy from Half Baked." And they really wanted that, I made good money, and I got great appeal. But as a stand up, I was always in that family world. It's just that it hasn't been exposed until recently with Let's Clear the Air a couple of years ago, and now this special, and the tour I'm doing now.
I'm on the road touring A New Hour. And I've got to say, I think this hour is pretty bone crushing. I think And Laughter For All was really bone crushing. I was killing audiences. And I think I did a great job with the DVD, but I think I stayed really consistent with what I'm doing out there now too.
MRR: I wanted to ask you because I've talked to musicians and people like this, and they're doing a lot of the same stuff every night. And I was wondering, as a comedian, how hard does that get to do the act again over and over every night?
Jim Breuer: Well, what happens is I do, do a lot of the same stuff on this tour, but what I've been finding is I elaborate a lot more. Like if you saw me, let's say, June of this tour, you would have seen some of the stuff that I'm doing now, but I've elaborated and added on a lot more, and more, and more. I never do truly the same exact stuff all the time. I may even do the same subject, but you go, "You know, I saw him only three months ago on this tour, and that subject has changed a lot since I saw him the last time." And I constantly put myself in the audiences' feet as if there's a guy watching me every three months. And even though it's the same tour, I still want to keep adding in certain areas. And so, I'm always changing. So I'd get bored to death if I'm doing the same thing after a while. Even though it's the same tour, I'm still different than I was a month ago.
MRR: And you're very animated on stage. I was wondering, 'cause you have kids now that you talk about in this, what do they think about you after they see you on stage?
Jim Breuer: You know, they're hard to figure out. They really are. They're really hard to figure out. My wife will go, "Oh my gosh, you were so funny tonight." My father and my kids never go, "Oh my God, you were hilarious." They always talk about the audience. "Oh my gosh, dad, there was this one guy who was just staring at you the whole time. He was really annoyed, but the person next to him was bowled over laughing so hard. [chuckle] I think they're most fascinated with how people are watching me. I think they're more critical of, "Hey, how are you guys reacting to my dad?" That's the only thing they can think of, they never sit there and go, "Dad was just hilarious. Dad, that stuff you do." They do kinda crack up and they did really enjoy that last special because a lot of it's the truth. The Sears paint story. They know I'm a big metal head. Going to dinner with them, what a disaster, [chuckle] and the petting zoo. So, they get a kick that I can talk about real life on stage, but they think it's natural. They don't get that I'm actually working. They're like, "Oh, you just talk about what's going on and that's your job?" [chuckle] Yeah, it's a little more complicated than that.
MRR: The life of a comedian is like these ridiculous things are happening and in the moment it kind of sucks, but later on you'll be like, "This is gonna be fun to tell on stage," right?
Jim Breuer: Yeah. My life now even, and I should talked to Amy about this. But I think it was about a week ago, we were texting each other and one of my texts didn't go through, which is really weird, we kept talking and kept talking over text and one of the texts I wrote was, "Hey, come drive and see me. My room is under... Waiting for you." And then I had to go on stage, and when I got off stage it was a 40-page text on "Who'd you send that text to?" I'm going on a binge spending spree and I'm gonna burn everything I buy. I'm gonna bury you. Like who are you cheating with?" I was like "Are you crazy?" But at the same time like, "Oh my God, I just got another 20 minutes. This is phenomenal."
MRR: You also just put out a song, right, Santa Claus Ain't Coming to Town?
Jim Breuer: Yeah, Santa ain't coming to town.
MRR: It's like you're yelling at your kids through metal.
Jim Breuer: Yes, and that's what it is. I'm a metal head. [chuckle] I'm making a record in January and I wanna be the metal Wiggles. I wanna be the Wiggles for adults. [chuckle] And I'm standing along that same family line, but I wanna add some metal into this family life. And this is kind of the first little hint of what's on the way and it's how me and my wife deal with my kids. And I say, "Oh, you wanna give me a Santa list? Well, before I give it to Santa, we have some details to discuss."
MRR: And this is on an album that comes out in Spring 2014, right?
Jim Breuer: Yes. Yeah, with a tour and that whole thing.
MRR: And the song comes out Tuesday, December 3rd. And this new special comes out on the 26th. Jim, thank you so much for talking with me today. I really appreciate it and I hope everything goes great for you.
Jim Breuer: And thank you, thanks. Have a good one.